Final answer:
Aerobic respiration consists of glycolysis in the cytoplasm, the Krebs cycle in the mitochondrial matrix, and electron transport on the mitochondrial inner membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three stages of aerobic respiration are glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), and electron transport (oxidative phosphorylation).
- Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell and converts one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process.
- The Krebs cycle occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria, further breaking down the products of glycolysis and producing CO2, ATP, NADH, and FADH2.
- Electron transport takes place on the inner membrane of the mitochondria, where NADH and FADH2 release their high-energy electrons to generate a larger amount of ATP.